Diplôme d'Etat

English translation: Diplôme d'Etat

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:Diplôme d'Etat
English translation:Diplôme d'Etat
Entered by: Steve Melling

18:18 Mar 31, 2009
French to English translations [PRO]
Medical - Education / Pedagogy / university qualifications
French term or phrase: Diplôme d'Etat
This is the first part of a qualification. Second question coming up.
Steve Melling
France
Local time: 08:03
Diplôme d'Etat
Explanation:
Here is my standard explanation for why you can't just "translate" a degree:

The short explanation is: translators are not in a position to determine degree equivalencies, a complex task that can only be performed by qualified officials at degree-awarding institutions. I speak from experience not only as a translator but as a retired academic: I sat for years on a university committee that developed the standards for admission, transfer and graduation from that institution. Once those standards were developed and approved by the university community and its officials, they became part of the tools with which the university registrar could work. Registrars are the *only* officials at an institution of higher learning who can evaluate degree equivalencies. And they can only do so in terms of their own institution's standards. Not even they are in a position to "re-award" a degree earned elsewhere!

*Awarding* a degree means holding a ceremony and issuing a document, to bestow a status on the recipient. In this, degrees are similar to *names* (of institutions, brands, companies). If the entity has names in more than one language, then it becomes possible to select the already existing name in the target language, in place of the one used in the source language. If the name only exists in the target language, it does not fall to the translator to re-baptize the entity in a new language.

In like manner, we can only substitute the *name* of a degree when it already exists in the target language. Canadian degrees, for instance, have names in both French and English (or English and French...) Such is not the case for any degrees from institutions in France, for instance, where their awarding is only done in French. The same applies to degrees "awarded in Spanish": in fact, they are being awarded under national standards, not “in languages” [in the case of a diploma from Colombia, for instance, these standards are governed by government decrees, as they are in many other countries!] The best that we humble translators can do is to cite the *name* of the degree, and include a parenthetical explanation, which is how I have phrased my answer, above.

As an example of the lack of equivalence between names and content, here is an explanation taken from an article on another French-language-based educational system, the one in Lebanon, where they appear to have retained a model similar to the old French one (note the mention of the one degree–also awarded in Lebanon, at the American University–that *is* a Ph.D.):

“This stage involves writing a dissertation leading to the doctoral degree. The Doctorat de Troisième Cycle is awarded after two years of study beyond the Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies. The Doctorat d'État (in medicine and pharmacology) is awarded after a further two years of study. Finally, the Ph.D. degree is only offered at American-style universities.” http://www.wes.org/ewenr/00jan/practical.htm.

For further reference, please see examples of texts in English where “docteur d’état” is used:

http://www.google.com/search?q="doctorat d'état" degree&hl=e...

N.B. FWIW, institutions usually have their catalogs on-line, so if the name of the school is available, one can check on the meaning of a degree that way. That would make a parenthetical explanation more meaningful, wouldn't it?
Selected response from:

Yolanda Broad
United States
Local time: 02:03
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +5Diplôme d'Etat
Yolanda Broad
4State Diploma / Doctorate
Drmanu49
4national degree
Valerie SYKES


  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
State Diploma / Doctorate


Explanation:
He holds a State Diploma of Doctor in Pharmacy (Pharm. ... 11th of September 2001 by health ministers in the following countries: Canada, France, Germany, ...
net-science.irsn.fr/scripts/net-science/publigen/content/templates/show.asp?P=119&L=EN&SYNC=Y - 27k -

In France, the doctorate (doctorat) is always a research-only degree. ... (This diploma is similar in spirit to the older state doctorate, ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctorate - 118k -

Drmanu49
France
Local time: 08:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 316
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +5
Diplôme d\'Etat
Diplôme d'Etat


Explanation:
Here is my standard explanation for why you can't just "translate" a degree:

The short explanation is: translators are not in a position to determine degree equivalencies, a complex task that can only be performed by qualified officials at degree-awarding institutions. I speak from experience not only as a translator but as a retired academic: I sat for years on a university committee that developed the standards for admission, transfer and graduation from that institution. Once those standards were developed and approved by the university community and its officials, they became part of the tools with which the university registrar could work. Registrars are the *only* officials at an institution of higher learning who can evaluate degree equivalencies. And they can only do so in terms of their own institution's standards. Not even they are in a position to "re-award" a degree earned elsewhere!

*Awarding* a degree means holding a ceremony and issuing a document, to bestow a status on the recipient. In this, degrees are similar to *names* (of institutions, brands, companies). If the entity has names in more than one language, then it becomes possible to select the already existing name in the target language, in place of the one used in the source language. If the name only exists in the target language, it does not fall to the translator to re-baptize the entity in a new language.

In like manner, we can only substitute the *name* of a degree when it already exists in the target language. Canadian degrees, for instance, have names in both French and English (or English and French...) Such is not the case for any degrees from institutions in France, for instance, where their awarding is only done in French. The same applies to degrees "awarded in Spanish": in fact, they are being awarded under national standards, not “in languages” [in the case of a diploma from Colombia, for instance, these standards are governed by government decrees, as they are in many other countries!] The best that we humble translators can do is to cite the *name* of the degree, and include a parenthetical explanation, which is how I have phrased my answer, above.

As an example of the lack of equivalence between names and content, here is an explanation taken from an article on another French-language-based educational system, the one in Lebanon, where they appear to have retained a model similar to the old French one (note the mention of the one degree–also awarded in Lebanon, at the American University–that *is* a Ph.D.):

“This stage involves writing a dissertation leading to the doctoral degree. The Doctorat de Troisième Cycle is awarded after two years of study beyond the Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies. The Doctorat d'État (in medicine and pharmacology) is awarded after a further two years of study. Finally, the Ph.D. degree is only offered at American-style universities.” http://www.wes.org/ewenr/00jan/practical.htm.

For further reference, please see examples of texts in English where “docteur d’état” is used:

http://www.google.com/search?q="doctorat d'état" degree&hl=e...

N.B. FWIW, institutions usually have their catalogs on-line, so if the name of the school is available, one can check on the meaning of a degree that way. That would make a parenthetical explanation more meaningful, wouldn't it?

Yolanda Broad
United States
Local time: 02:03
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nina Iordache: Absolutely! Fully agree!
4 hrs
  -> Thank you.

agree  sktrans
6 hrs
  -> Thank you.

agree  Adsion Liu
7 hrs
  -> Thank you.

agree  Anne McConnell: There are contexts, however, when a future employer, for instance (rather than an institution) needs to have an idea of what it means. I often footnote such degrees in such situations.
1 day 1 hr
  -> A parenthetical explanation or a footnote is definitely appropriate.

agree  Sezzie (X): I agree with Anne - I would put "Diplôme d'Etat" (equivalent of a State Diploma)
4 days
  -> Good addition. Thanks!
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1 day 13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
national degree


Explanation:
Yes, it is difficult to find an adequate translation for a foreign qualification, but if none is found the reader of the translation (who probably has no knowledge of the other language) has absolutely no idea of what that qualification is.

I've chosen 'national degree' because I know through teaching in medical and dental schools in France that the 'diplôme d'état' is the name of the degree awarded when the students qualify. I think that it can also be used for further degrees and qualifications.

Valerie SYKES
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:03
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
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